Max 15C, min 0C Friday May 14 2010 | timesonline.co.uk | No 69947 £1 The truth about bricks&mortar those floor plans... The best property section on the block Coat check: new Tory co-chairman ready for work IN THE NEWS TIMES/CANON YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR MATT LLOYD Protesters vow to fight to death after shooting Thousands of anti-government protesters occupying the centre of Bangkok vowed to fight to the death after a renegade general who led the movement’s paramilitary wing was shot in the head. At least one person was killed and eight were injured when violence flared after the army said that it was imposing a lockdown. News, page 3 BP chief’s job on the line Tony Hayward, the chief executive of BP, admitted in an interview with The Times at the company’s US headquarters that he could lose his job over the giant oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico. World news, page 33 Disabled pianist ruling A disabled piano virtuoso has made legal history after the last secret court was opened for the first time. The Court of Protection appointed the family of Derek Paravicini to look after his welfare. News, page 5 Rape story of girl , 8 An eight-year-old girl who claimed to have been raped by two boys told a court the attack never happened. She told the story as she was worried about getting into trouble for being naughty. News, page 18 Fields of solar panels Fields in Gloucestershire’s rolling Baroness Warsi, the first female Muslim Cabinet minister and party co-chairman with Andrew Feldman, ditches pinstriped traditions — and her coat — outside No 10 countryside may soon be covered by thousands of solar panels because of a subsidy funded through increases in household energy bills. News, page 15 Trade lurch hits pound Cameron’s coalition Sterling plunged after worse than expected trade figures. Exports failed to keep pace with a sharp rise in imports in March, driving the trade in goods gap to reaches out to Obama £7.5 billion. Business news, page 45 England reach final England beat Sri Lanka to reach Hague backs White House on Afghanistan and Iran the World Twenty20 final. Francis Elliott, Giles Whittell congratulation to David Cameron to said it was extremely important that it he said: “There are things said in cam- Australia and Pakistan meet today invoke the “extraordinary special co-operated with the international paigns but now they have to put together in the second semi-final but The coalition Government will open a relationship” between Britain and the community on its nuclear programme a programme to govern. This is an England will fear neither after the new chapter in relations with Washing- US for the first time in his presidency, and indicated that Britain would con- extraordinarily important relationship.” latest triumph. Sport, pages 98-100 ton today, reassuring President Obama encouraging hopes of a new beginning. tinue to push for UN sanctions. Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, former that there will be no weakening in Brit- Aides in Britain said that Mr Cam- Speaking before today’s visit, Philip Chief of the Defence Staff, said that Inside today ain’s stance against Iran and offering eron’s arrival at No 10 represented a there was some concern in the US early support over Afghanistan. “clean slate” in relations. The Foreign about Nick Clegg’s party. “There’s noth- This week the actual William Hague, who tells The Times and Commonwealth Office privately Prepare for VAT rise to ing quite like the Lib Dems in the US. I today that Tehran “needs to change acknowledges that reassurance is think that they would like assurance.” Parliament became course”, will discuss both issues at his needed because the Liberal Democrat 20%, say economists Mr Cameron has named David more exciting meeting with Hillary Clinton, the US manifesto opposed military action The new politics, pages 6-11 Lidington as his Europe Minister. The than the 1970s Secretary of State. against Tehran and warned against Lib Dems will be represented in the The visit, his first as Foreign Secre- “the dangers of a subservient Foreign Office by Jeremy Browne. funk band tary and only three days into the new relationship with the United States”. Crowley, Assistant Secretary of State, The Cabinet Office said Mr Clegg Caitlin Moran’s Government, is intended to send a sig- Mr Hague made clear in an inter- said that the US was confident of a stable had spoken to Joe Biden, the US Vice- Celebrity Watch nal that the coalition wants the relation- view with The Times that Iran should and constructive relationship with Brit- President, who had congratulated him ship with the US to be as strong as ever. be under no illusions about his determi- ain. Asked if that depended on the Lib on his entry into government. Mr Obama used his message of nation that it should fall into line. He Dems disavowing their policy on Iran, Leading articles, page 2.